Machine for snipping beans, &amp;c.



W. KILLINGSWORTH.

MACHINE FOR SNIPPING BEANS, 6L0.

APPLICATION FILED MAY n 1916.-

1,246, 1 10. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. KILLINGSWORTH.

MACHINE FOR SNIPPING BEANS, aw.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY I. 1916. 1,246,1 10.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

4? air/ 581 16630,

W. KILLINGSWORTH. MACHINE FOR SNIP PING BEANS, 6w.

APPLICATION HLED MAY! 1916- .7 1,246, 1 10. Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i i italic VIILBER KILLINGSW=JE I-I, GE CHILLICOTHE, OI IIQ, ASSIGNOR T0 'l'I-IE CHILLICOTHE BEAN SNIPPEP, CGMPANY, 0F OHILLICOTHE, O'i-TIG, A COE-PORATION OF OHIO.

MEiGZ-IINE FOR SHIPPING BEAN S, 81.0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented-Nov. 13, 1917.

Application filed May 1, 1916. Serial No. 94,578.

To all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, Winona KiLLINoswonrri, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chillicothc, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Snipping Beans, do, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a machine for trimming or cutting oif the opposite ends of string beans preparatory to canning or using the same for domestic purposes although this machine may also be used for trimming the ends of other articles.

in machines of this character, as heretofore constructed, the articles tobe out were placed in a plurality of pockets or buckets and successively presented to two sets of devices which successively operated on opposite ends of these articles, each of these sets comprisinga or stop arranged adjacent to the path of the carrier at one end of the pockets, means for causing toe articles in the peel-rots to be moved at one end against said gage, and a cutting device to which the articles were presented after reaching the gage and which operated to sever the respective ends of the articles. While the articles were thus moved trans- "ersely in the pockets and presented to the "espective gage and companion cutting de- *ice the same were confined within the pockets by means of a stationary cover ex tending across the upper side or open top of the pockets.

The purpose of the present invention is to improve the means for gaging the articles at their ends preparatory to cutting oli those ends or tips of the articles where they have been gaged so as to avoid disturbing the position of the articles as they move from the gage to the cutting device and insure a more ertcct and uniform severing of the ends of the articles, also to improve the means whereby the articles are moved transversely in the pockets toward said gage and cutting device, and also to improve the means whereby the tops or upper sides of the poclre's are closed while the articles therein are presented to the transverse shifting means, the gage mechanism and the cutting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a machine for trimming the ends of articles which is constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section thereof. 3 is a top plan view thereof with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line l, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section 61 an enlarged scale, taken 7 on line o5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a rear end clevation of the machine. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the correspondingly numbered line in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 88, Fig. 4-.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The main frame of the machine may be of any suitable construction but as shown in the drawings the same comprises two upright longitudinal side walls or plates 1. 2 and upright legs or standards 3, 3. whereby these walls are supported on the floor. Between these walls is arranged the carrier whereby the articles to be cut or trimmed are presented to the gaging and cutting mechanism. This carrier or support may be of any suitable construction which will do the work but as shown in thedrawings the same preferably comprise an endless belt l having an upper horizontal operative stretch and a lower horizontal inoperative stretch and passing. with its front and rear turns around front and rear pulleys or wheels 5, 6. On its upper side this belt is provider with a plurality of transverse pockets, buckets or receptacles 7 which may be constructed of any suitable material and in any suitable form and each of which is open at its opposite ends and at its top or pull y and a driving belt 12 passing around the same. The articlesto be trimmed at the ends, such for instance as string beans,

aredeposited in the pockets on'the received on the shaft 9 01" the rear supporting ing part of the upper or operative stretch of the carrier adjacent to the front supporting pulley, this feeding of the articles being effected either by hand or by suitable automatic mechanism so. that they are arranged lengthwise in the several pockets. As. the pockets loaded with the articles to be trimmed move forwardly they are first presented to a gaging mechanism arranged on one side of the path of the carrier adjacent to the corresponding ends of the pockets and then moved transversely in these pockets so that one end of each of these articles engages the respective gage after which those ends of the articles which have been gaged are presented to a cutting device which severs the respective ends of the article, and thereafter the articles are moved transversely in the pockets in the opposite direction so that the other ends thereof are en gaged with another arranged adjacent to theopposite side of the path of the carrier at the opposite ends of the pockets preparatory to being severed at the last mentioned gaged ends by another cutting device. These two transverse propellin means, gaging means and cutting means which operate successively upon opposite ends of the articles form primary and secondary sets of devices which operate successively on opposite ends of the articles and the construction of these two sets of devices is substantially alike. The essential features of the primary set of article treating devices are constructed as follows:

13 represents a suction pipe arranged on one side, in this case the left side, of the main frame and provided at its upper end with a suction head or chamber 14 which communicates with an opening 15 in the corresponding side walls of the frame horizontally in line with the path of one end of the pockets on the operative stretch of the carrier, while the opposite end of this suction pipe communicates with one side of the eye of the casing 16 of an exhaust fan arranged on the underside of the main frame. The blades of this fan may be turned in any suitable mannenfor instance, as shown in the drawings by means of a belt 17 passing around a pulley 18 on the main driving shaft 9 of the machine and apulley 19 on the shaft 20 of the fan. As the pockets are successively presented at one end to the mouth of the suction head 14 the movement of the air entering this head is the direction crosswise of the pockets of the carrier and its pressure causes the articles 100 .which have been deposited in the same to be drawn transversely in one direction toward this suction head so that those ends of the articles which are at this time advancing under the action ofthis suction are caused to engage a gage device, as shown by dotted lines in Fi .8.

carrier. The several sets of inner faces of the several sets of gage disks form practically an even or uniform surface which is parallel with the direction of movement of the operative stretch of the disks are arranged in the path of the current of air passing from the pockets into the suction head ld and are turned so that the inner sides of the several dis rs which face the open ends of adjacent pockets move forwardly or in the same direction as the pockets and at the same rate of speed. For this purpose the gage disks may be mounted in any suitable manner but in the preferred construction which is shown in the drawings each set of these gage disks is mounted on an upright gage shaft which is journaled at its upper and lower ends in. suitable bearings formed on the upper and lower sides of the respective suction head. The several gage shafts are caused to turn in unison by means of a horizontal driving shaft 23 journaled lengthwise in hearings on the upper side of the suction head and operatively connected with the upper end of each gage shaft by means of a pair of intermeshing bevel gear wheels 2% the members of which are connected respectively with the horizontal shaft -23 and the upper end of a shaft. as best shown in Fig. 4.

As the articles to be trimmed are drawn laterally outwardly with one of their ends against the inner surfaces of the ga e disks the latter arrest this transverse movement of the articles but do not retard the movement of the same lengthwise of the machine with the carrier inasmuch as the operative surfaces of the gage disk travel forwardly in the same direction as the carrier and at the same rate, thereby avoiding displace ment of the article preparatory to severing the gaged ends thereof. In order to enable the ga e disks to aid in propelling the articles whlch are in contact with the inner sur faces of these disks the edge of each disk is preferably. serrated or toothed, shown at 25 in Fig. 8. These teeth enable each disk to obtain .a better hold onthe end of the article with which it engages and to positively feed the same forward toward the cutting mechanism. After the articles have reached the gage device and have been gaged at one end thereof in the manner described the same are presented to a cutting device which operates to snip 0d the gaged ends of the articles on a line between the gage and the adjacent ends of the carrier pockets.

In its preferred form this cutter mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 1% and 8, comprises a lower stationary cutter blade or knife 26 mounted on the adjacent longitudinal wall of the frame between the carrier and the primary gage disks, and an upper rotatable cutter disk or knife 27 engaging with the outer side of the stationary cutter blade adjacent to the primary gage disks, the inlet of the pass between the stationary and movable cutter blades converging rearwardly and being arranged on a line with the ends of the articles which project from the respective ends of the pockets of the carrier. The cutter disk 27 is mounted on a horizontal cutter shaft 28 which is journaled transversely in a bearing on the front end of a vertically swinging rock arm 29. The latter is pivoted at its rear end on a transverse counter shaft 30 so thatthis arm and the cutter disk are free to rise and fall. The downward movement of the cutter shaft may be limited by any suitable means, for instance by engaging the outer end of this shaft with a shoulder 31 on the adjacent part of the frame side wall, as shown in Fig. 1. If an unduly hard article is presented by the pockets to the cutter mechanism its cutter disk will rise and clear such article but after the article has passed the upper cutter disk the latter again descends by gravity into its normal. position. The counter shaft 30 is journaled in suitablehearings on the upper part of the main frame and motion is transmitted from the same to the companion cutter shaft by means of a belt 32 preferably of the chain type passing around sprocket wheels 33, 3% arranged on the counter shaft 30 and the inner end of the cutter shaft 28, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to permit the length of snips which are cut off from the ends of articles to be accurately adjusted in accordance with the character of the material the gage mechanism is made adjustable toward and from the path of such articles. Various means may be provided for this purpose but those shown in the drawings, and best shown in Figs. 4c, 7 and 8. comprise adjusting bolts 35 passing through lugs 36 on opposite sides of the suction head and having heads at their inner ends which bear against the inner side of the adjacent frame side wall and screw nuts 37 at their outer ends which bear against the lugs 36 and springs 38 interposed between the outer side of the adjacent frame side wall and the inner side of the lugs 36. Upon tightening the screw nuts 37 the gage disks are moved with the suction head toward the path of the articles which are carried forward by the pockets, thereby decreasing the length of the end portions of the articles which project laterally beyond the cutting line of the cutting mechanism. During such adjustment the springs 38 are compressed. Upon loosening the screw nuts 37 the springs 38 push the suction head out wardly and thereby carry the gage disks laterally away from the path of the articles to be trimmed so that a greater length'of the end portions thereof projects laterally beyond the cutting line of the blades and auses a proportionately longer snip to he cut off from such articles. After this adjustment of the gage mechanism is effected the same may he held securely in place by means of a clamping bolt 39 passing through the lower part of the suction head and a slot 40 in the bracket ll arranged on. the adjacent frame side wall below the suction head.

After the articles in the pockets of the carrier have been cut or snipped off at one of their ends these articles during the continued forward movement of the carrier are presented to the secondary device which is arranged on the opposite side of the carrier adjacent to the path of the opposite ends of the pockets and the articles upon reaching this gage device are moved transversely in the pockets and drawn with their opposite ends against this secondary gaging device by a secondary suction device. The latter is constructed substantially like the primary suction device and comprises a suction head 42 extending through an opening in the right hand frame wall so that the mouth of this head is arranged in line with the opposite ends of the carrying pockets, and a suction pipe d3 connecting this suction head with the opposite side of the eye of the fan case so that when the machine is in operation a suction, air current will be produced transversely across the pockets when they reach the mouth of the secondary suction head.

The secondary gaging device comprise a plurality of sets of gaging disks a each set being arranged in an upright row but spaced apart and mounted on an upright gage shaft which is journaled in suitable bearings on the companion suction head. The gaging disks of each of the last mentioned sets are arranged between the spaces of the disks of an adjacent set and the several sets of these disks are arranged so that their inner sides practically form an even or uniform gaging surface which is adapted to be engaged with the opposite ends of the articles which are to be trimmed. The inner or gaging sides of these disks move forwardly in the same direction as the pockets at the same rate of speed for the purpose of avoiding displacement of the articles which are to be cut and also aiding in carrying the same forwardly to the secondary cutting device. This motion is preferably obtained by the means which are shown in the drawings and which comprise a longitudinal driving shaft iournaled horizontally in suitable bearings on the upper part of the secondary suction head and a plurality of pairs of beveled gears f? the members of each pair being connected with the driving shaft L6 and the upper end. of one of the gaging shafts After the articles have been thus drawn by the action of theair pressure with their opposite ends agamst the secondary gaging disks tne articles during their continued forward movement with the carrier are presented to the secondary cutting device which is constructed like the primary cuttii'ig device and comprises a lower stationary cutting blade or knife d8 arranged between the opposite ends of the pockets and the secondary gage device and an upper movable cutter blade or knife l9 which preferably has the form of a disk and is also arranged between the opposite ends of the pockets of the secondary gaging device and cooperates with the lower secondary blade so that the inlet of the pass between these blades converges forwardly and is in line with the path of the opposite ends of the articles to be trimmed, whereby the latter upon being moved forwardly by the carrier have their opposite ends cut off. The amount of material which is cut 0% from the opposite ends of the articles may be determined by adjusting the secondary gage device laterally relatively to the secondary cutter, this being preferably accomplished by means similar to those employed in connection with the primary gaging device and comprising adjusting bolts 50 and 53 connecting lugs 51 on opposite sides of the secondary suction head with the main frame, springs interposed between these lugs and the adjacent part of the main frame, and a clamping bolt 54: connecting the underside of the secondary suction head with a bracket on the adjacent part of the main frame.

The two gaging devices are preferably caused to turn in unison by means of a transverse shaft 99 j ournaled horizontally in suitable bearings on the main frame and provided at its opposite ends with two pairs of intermeshing bevel gear wheels 97, 98, one of which pairs connects the driving shaft 23 of the primary de 'ice with this transverse shaft while the other pair connects the driving shaft 4L6 of the secondary gaging device with this transverse shaft, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4-. Although power may be applied to this gaging device from any suitable source the means for this purpose which are shown in the drawings are suitable and comprise a short transverse shaft 57 journaled horizontally in suitable bearings on the secondary suction head, a pair of intermeshing bevel gear wheels 58 connecting this short transverse shaft with the rear end of the driving shaft of the secondary gaging device, and a belt- 59 passing around pulleys 60, 56 on the main driving shaft 9 and the short transverse shaft 57, as shown in Fig. 3.

The adjustment of the suction heads for the purpose of carrying the gage disks mounted thereon toward and from the companion cutting devices is comparatively small and no serious interference with the driving mechanism of the gaging disks occurs inasmuch as there is suliicient looseness in the gears and suliicient spring in the longitudinal driving shafts of the gaging devices to permit of such adjustment.

The secondary upper cutting disk is mounted on a short horizontal shaft 61 which is journaled transversely in a hearing arranged on the rear end of a vertically swinging rock arm 62 which latter is pivotally mounted at its front end on the counter shaft 30, and motion is transmitted from this counter shaft to the secondary cutter shaft and the secondary upper blade by means of a belt 63 preferably of the chain type passing around driving and driven sprocket wheels 64:, 65 secured respectively to the counter shaft 30 and the corresponding ends of the cutter shaft G1.

The counter shaft 30 may be operated in any suitable manner, for instance by means of an intermediate shaft 66 journaled horizontally in suitable bearings on the main frame, a cross belt 67 passing around a pulley 68 at one end of the intermediate shaft and a pulley 69 on the corresponding end of the main driving shaft 9, and a straight belt- 70 passing around a pulley 71 at the opposite end of the intermediate shaft and a pulley 72 on the corresponding end of the counter shaft 30, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to confine the suction of the exhaust fan to the pockets which for the time being are arranged transversely in line with the gaging devices and the cutting devices the tops or upper sides of the pockets are closed while passing the sucking, gaging and cutting devices and thereby insure exerting the full pressure of the air on the are ticles in the pockets so that they are properly moved with their ends against the gaging devices preparatory to being operated upon by the cutting devices. The means for this purpose which are shown in the drawings comprise an endless longitudinal covering belt 73 having a lower operative horizontal stretch and an upper inoperative horizontal stretch, said lower stretch extending across the upper sides or tops of the carrying pockets from a point in front of the primary suction, gaging and cutting devices to a point in rear of the secondary suction, gaging and cutting devices. This covering belt passes with its lOO front and rear turns around front and rear pulleys 74-, 75 which are mounted respectively on a transverse shaft 76 journaled horizontally on the adjacent upper part of the main frame and the intermediate shaft Gtwhich forms part of the cutter driving mechanism. During the forward movement of the pockets past the suction, gaging and cutting devices the tops of the same are closed by the lower stretch of the covering belt which latter moves in the same direction and at the same rate of speed, thereby confining the propelling effect of the air under pressure to the articles in the pockets but preventing the articles from being crushed or caught between the cover belt and the pockets and also avoiding any waste of such material which otherwise would be liable to occur. In order to permit the air to enter freely at the far ends of the pockets while the same is being exhausted therefrom at the near ends which are opposite the mouths of the suction heads, the main frame is provided with air inlet openings 77, 78 in the frame side walls adjacent to the far ends of the pockets transversely in line with the companion suction heads, as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8.

After he articles have passed the primary .Ld secondary cutting devices and both ends hereof have been trimmed off these articles are discharged from the pockets into a suitable receptacle or are otherwise disposed of as the pockets make the rear turn of the carrier from the upper to the lower stretches thereof. The snips or pieces out off from the ends of the articles are carried away from the outer sides of the cutting devices through the air conduits by the exhaust fan and discharged by the latter to any suitable place.

lhis machine as a whole is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction considt ring the character of the work which it performs. The same can be operated with a moderate amount of power, itis not liable to get out of order and the same is etlicient in operation and capable of trimming articles such as string beans expeditiously and economically with uniformity and practically no waste.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a support for the articlcs to be trimmed, cutting device arranged adjacent to said support for trimming the articles thereon, and a fluid suetion. devic operating to draw said articles on the support toward said cutting device.

A machine for trimmin the ends of articles comprising a support for the articles to be trimmed, a gage arranged adjacent to said support, a cutting device arranged between said gage and said support, and means for revving the articles by suoiii tion on said support against said gage preparatory to operating on said articles by said cutting device.

r machine for-trimming the ends of articles comprising a support for the articles to be trimmed, a arranged adjacentto said support, a cutting, device arranged between said and said support, and means for drawing the articles by suc 'tion on said support against said gage preparatory to operating on said articles by said cutting device, said support being movable relatively to said gage and cutting device.

4. A. machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapted to support the articles to be trimmed, a

for said articles comprising a rotatable disk having its edge facing said articles, and a cutting device to which said articles are presented after reaching said gage.

A machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapted to supportthe articles to be trimmed, a gage for said articles comprising a rotatable disk having its edge serrated and facing said articles, and a cutting device to which said articles are presented after reaching said gage.

6. A machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapted to support the articles to be trimmed, a gage for said articles comprising a rotatable disk having; its edge arranged in the path of said articles and its operative side moving in the same direction as the adjacent part of the carrier, and a cutting de vice which operates on said articles after the latter reach said gage.

7. A machin for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapteo. to support the articles to be trimmed, a for said articles comprising a plural ity of rotatable disks turning about the axis and having their edges facing saic articles, and a cutting device to which said articles are presented after reaching said gage.

8. A machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapted to support the articles to be trimmed, a gage for said articles comprising a plurality of sets of disks, the members of each set turning about the same axis and arranged in the spaces between the disks of an adjacent set, and a cutting device to which said articles are presented after reaching said gage.

9. A machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapted to support the articles to be trimmed, a gage for said articles comprising a plurality of sets of disks, the members of each set turning about the same axis and ar- 1 in the same direction, and a cutting device to Which said articles are presented after reaching said gage.

10. A machine for trimming the ends of articles comprising a movable carrier adapt- 3 ed to support the articles to be trimmed, a

gage for said articles comprising a plural ity'of sets of disks, the members of each set turning about the same axis and arranged in the spaces between the disks of an adjacent set, means for turning said several sets of disks in unison so that the sides thereof adjacent to said carrier move in the same direction comprising a plurality of parallel gage shafts upon each of which one of said sets of disks is mounted, a driving shaft arranged at right angles to said gage shafts and a pair of intermeshing bevel gear Wheels connecting each gage shaft with said driving shaft.

W'ILBER KILLINGSWORTH.

Games 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

